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organized by your Vestry, which soon began to produce good
results, for in the quinquennium, 1871-75, the death-rate fell to
18.9, and in the next five years, 1876-80, to 18.7. A still larger
decline was observed in the quinquennium, 1881-85, the deathrate
in those years being 15.9 per 1,000 only. If to these five
years we add 1886-87, it will appear that the death-rate in the
septennial period, 1881-87, was 16.1 per 1,000. In 1888 the
rate was 15.9 per 1,000. In Kensington, as in London, an
eminently satisfactory improvement in the public health has
taken place in regard to "preventable" diseases, i.e., of the
zymotic class. This improvement has been largely due to the
legislation of 1866 ("The Sanitary Act") and 1867 (''The
Metropolitan Poor Act"), the Metropolis having been provided
under the last-named Act with a magnificent system
of Hospitals for Infectious Diseases, organized by the Metropolitan
Asylums Board.
It is not probable that the good results of the past thirtythree
years of Sanitary Administration will be far surpassed in
time to come ; but something may be done by legislation to
facilitate the proceedings of those, authorities and officers, alike
engaged in the great work. What is most wanted is machinery
whereby a nearer approach to Unity in carrying out the
provisions of law may be attained. Measures for the Consolidation
of Sanitary Laws and for Compulsory Notification
of Infectious Diseases, together with a settlement of the
Hospital Question on the principles which I have ventured to
lay down, are among the most pressing needs of the Metropolis
at the present time. Consolidation and Notification may
possibly be obtained during the current session of Parliament,
and as regards the hospitals it may be reasonably hoped that
ere long the advantages to the Metropolis of the existing
practice, by which admission is made easy and treatment is
afforded at the common cost, will be permanently secured by
legislation,